Male rhythmic gymnastics...to be or not to be?

«At rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming competitions not only women but men as well should take part», – the president of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, Irina Viner-Usmanova, claimed.

Irina Viner-Usmanova emphasized that many kinds of sport that were for men only have become available to all. She has an opinion that rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming should undergo the same changes.

«If women go in for box, football and weightlifting, why can’t men start doing rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming? I’m all for these innovations!» - the famous coach said.

«However, this initiative has got several obstacles at international level», - she stated. «We all really want to have male rhythmic gymnastics but the present leadership of the International Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation refuse to accept it even as a non - Olympic kind of sport», - the president of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation lamented.

Irina Viner-Usmanova added that mixed couples should perform at rhythmic gymnastics. «The men should be helped», - she claimed – «Ask the girls. They are tired of gymnastics without men».

In July the competitions of water kinds of sport took place in Kazan this year. The mixed synchronized swimming couples were first introduced at such competitions.